Live-ish In Focus-ish From The Minneapolis Boat Show…ish.
Late yesterday in a flurry of text messages we got our first glimpse of all the fine Woody Boatness at the Minneapolis boat show thanks to fellow Woody Boater and pal, Andreas Rhude. It was actually a funny exchange, since about 30 text messages started coming in with only a phone number? Who? What are these? They are kinda fuzzy with no explanation. Of course we are all so old, who could tell anyway. I LOVE IT. We all know what that means. We get to make up the captions. But stay tuned over the weekend, also fellow Woody Boater and photographer extraordinaire Dane Andrews is going to be feeding Texx images from a big boy camera from the event. And knowing Texx we will have a complete history on each and every boat, down to the wood grain count on the port side blah blah… what ever that thing is called. In the mean time, this is what you get. Me and Andreas phone! ISH!

Nice Chair! And TWIN Johnsons. Andreas, you dog! I wish I had twin Johnsons… nooo, wait, I can barely afford the flowmax for one.

Here is a nice transom of a nice Riva, I am not sure the sign painter who did the lettering took his medication though.

A Dee White, kinda in focus! Its about now that your realize that your eye site is OK. YOU ARE NOT HAVING A STROKE. All is well!

A very rare front engine Larson Flyer, not sure how it works, but very cool. A pre courser to front wheel drive I suppose.

Maybe that engine is for this thing? Wait, yes it is, regardless of if it is, it is here. And so it is. And… wait one second, is that Kaptain Kangaroo standing there? This show is a must go to event. That guy died a while ago.. How cool is that? At least I think he died? Hold on, let me google that.. Yes, he is dead, died in 1994, man he looks great here at the show.. Maybe it isnt him. Now back to the shots.

Water skis! Its summer in doors up there in Minnesota! Actually a cool set up, love the picnic basket! I love displays like this. A moment in time.

A Riva, a darn in focus ish Riva! Gey Poupon anyone! These Rivas are so cool, they come with a self focuser. Thats right, its impossible to take an out of focus picture of a RIVA.. Really. Ever seen one? Thats right.

And we can end the tour with this killer 17 Chris – Craft barrel Back. Don’t look at the stripes, you will have a migraine all day!
All kidding aside, thanks Andreas for getting us a sneak peak at the show. As Andreas reported a total of 9 Woody’s and some canoes. Stay tuned for more, as we focus in on the show! Rim shot goes here…
Is that Lovely Rita’s Piranha?
Everyone jokes about the Grey Pupon but yet you never see one sitting on the dash. Well look for it on Panther if I make it to Lake Hopatcong this June!
Yes, that is Rita Hayworth’s Riva. It’s a robust display. And Andreas didn’t even send you a shot of John Allen’s stunning 1926 Hackercraft gentleman’s racer, “Blackjack”. I’m sure someone from BSLOL will give you more background on all the boats there and Dane’s photos will only add to it.
Besides being there to enjoy the woodies, I had to finally buy myself a new dock yesterday. I chose a classic forest green-painted steel dock with cedar decks. The guy selling it to me asked are you sure you don’t want the aluminum with the wood-like plastic decks? “No, definitely not,” I replied. Then he said, “let me guess, you’re one of those wood boat guys.”
As I roamed the big hall to get to the dock guys, past the rows upon rows of plastic boats and pontoons (which are beloved up here in the Northland) I noticed that there was a new trend in upper end pontoons: Plastic flooring made to look kind of like mahogany decks. I also found a $140,000 pontoon boat with twin 300-horsepower outboards. No comment on that.
The whole Rita Hayworth thing is unclear and never has been verified by facts. It is hearsay and innuendo. There has been lotsa controversy on the issue.
Rabbit – I would like to be one of the first to say “congratulations” on your new dock. It’s not every day a man gets to buy a new boat dock, with all the fixins’.
You have inspired us to publish a story about classic American boat docks next week… Stay tuned.
ha ha ha …I got my Rollodex out but could not find your Telex number. So I had to go back to the future and find one of those smarter than me phones. Hokus Pokus Focus Schmokish. Now that I turned 50, I can barely see myslef, so why should you expect in-focus photos? 😉
That comment captures an entire boat show in a nutshell. A bunch of faceless plastic and some cool old boats, and a bunch of cool stuff to buy
It happens to all of us on these smart phones. not enough apature to capture low light, so it blurs everything. We all got the idea? Right, like bad spelling.
I love the period accessories and watersports equipment on board that skiff. I agree that this really ‘sets the scene’ for boat-show-goers; it’s always fascinating to see the cultural ‘flotsam and jetsam’ of vintage boating. I appreciate it when people go the extra mile to showcase picnic and fishing gear, vintage coolers, transistor radios, period electronics, retro cushions, boat hooks, paddles, and correct fire extinguishers…especially when this stuff has that musty, intoxicating ‘boat house’ scent. Call it set design or whatever- it really pulls the viewer into the joys of classic boating! Check out this stunning Lyman Islander for some cool serving suggestions…
Sorry- I just realized ‘that skiff’ was Andreas Rhude’s very own lemonade-hued Thompson…just gorgeous! Andreas is a really amazing wooden boat enthusiast, and a fount of knowledge for the wide-ranging family of Thompson, Cruisers, T&T, and Grady-White lapstrake boats. He organizes a popular and well-attended Thompson rendezvous each summer near the old Thompson factory in WI, and he was a great resource when I purchased a 1959 Cruisers, Inc. 16′ outboard (now sold but just beautifully restored by her new owners in Green Lake, WI). Thanks for your enthusiasm, Andreas- that’s the way to build the hobby!
Beautiful boats, even out of focus. A little breath of fresh varnish to go with the snow! Ooops! Sun’s out, snow gone. It is N VA.
Andreas Thanks for the pics. Love you twin powerplants on your transome. It is a sweet set up as I have seen the the 18′ Lymans. I can feel the fun. As Capt. Grimpy says
‘Lapstrskes Rule’!
Sorry for the misspell Capt. Grumpy.
No problem , like everyone in my office says” I cant spell but I can sell!”
Matt, The HEADER is too cool! Gotta Luv a Lapstrake,
Mahalo!
I agree!! Please post it on the Facebook site, too! She’s just like my BETSY (SK-18-074)…
I like the ESCALATOR in the pic background. When I was still a kid I recall going up one in NYC to the boat show that featured the unveiling of the first CC fiberglass Commander….the 38 was inside and upstairs to my memory?? Anyone else recall that event?
John in Va.
Yes John, I remember those days! That is when the show was at The New York Coliseum before Jacob Javis Center. Also lots of big sailboats then, fully rigged. The Coliseum stood where Columbus Circle is today.
How on earth did they get a 38 Commander upstairs? And don’t tell me “the escalator.”
matt! get your checkbook, suzys sister is for sale on ebay! one focused photo even shows the bimini! no word on zippers!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1961-24-CHRIS-CRAFT-SPORTSMAN-/160966578259?pt=Power_Motorboats&hash=item257a5b1053#ht_500wt_1064
Andreas has a beautiful Thompson and the twin Johnson’s only add to it’s beauty.
And I will correct myself: The alleged Rita Haworth Riva.
Love those twins, Andreas, they are as hot as these.
This broker is 1 a First Class outfit. I bought my hacker craft from Greg Jackson and he is also the person that sold the hacker craft. I highly recommend anyone looking for a great wooden classic boat to check out Carolina classic cars and boats and talk to Greg Jackson. Hello
This should have been a reply to Mike can you use post about to 24 sportsman for sale by Greg Jackson .
Definitely hotter than Mary Kate and Ashley. (The ones above and the motors.) Tho Mary Kate and Ashley are a whole lot richer than any setting on those Johnsons!
This should have been a reply to Mike K post about to 24 sportsman for sale by Greg Jackson .
I spoke with Greg about that sportsman. Very nice boat. Great motor. It was the one on eBay for a while but Greg has it now and will be a. More helpful seller. Give home a call